Mohammad Tahir:
BARAMULLA: Almost two decades have passed since Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) had started work on Jetty-Janbazpora Bridge here, but the work was not completed yet, due to which locals are aghast over the departments concerned.
Mohammad Ashraf of Jetty Khowjabagh said that, the construction work on this vital bridge at Jetty and Janbazpora in Baramulla district is going at snail’s pace, the work on this Bridge was started in year 2000 and due to non-seriousness of authorities it is yet to be completed.
There are scores of areas on other side of the river Jhelum, who are eagerly waiting from past two decades for its completion as they feel that it would have shortened the distance of almost 15 kilometers from main market of Baramulla.
“People from across the river are facing numerous problems as they feel difficult to use Johama-Kanispora road or Janbazpora-Baramulla road to reach other areas of Baramulla district as both roads remains busy due to Army convoy movement,” said a local resident of Khowjabagh.
Ghulam Nabi Dar of Jetty area said that in year 2000, the JKPCC had started work on this bridge but the construction agency suspended the work many times in past, after spending more than Rs 2 crore, while as the department concerned says that, only R&B can work on this vital bridge.
“Johama is a nearby village of Baramulla town and most of the population remains busy in agriculture and horticulture businesses, however the women folk of this area use to sell their vegetables in Khojabagh and other nearby areas, according to them even the department concerned has also failed to macadamize the road,” said Gh Nabi.
He said that, if the bridge is constructed here, it can shorten distance of many villages of Rafiabad area like Johamma, Ladoora, Janbazpora, Chackloo, Nadihal, Binner, and even though people from Kupwara, Langate Handwara can also use this.
Another local resident said that, we have been left at the mercy of God, as department of Municipal Council Baramulla has made this area as garbage dump, due to which there remains a chance of stray dogs during early morning.
“If the bridge gets completed, the college students, people associated with horticulture, labour class would take a sigh of relief, adding Chati Padshahi (Khanpora Bridege), Azadgund Bridge, Ladoora Johama Bridge was completed in less than ten years, but this bridge is still incomplete,” local resident said.
He said basically there are no funds with the department and that is why the project has remained incomplete.